VANCOUVER—It wasn’t easy during the Stanley Cup finals to be a Boston Bruins fan in Vancouver. But on Wednesday night, it turned violent for Kris Griffin, who wore his Bruins jersey to watch the game.

Watching from a designated “fan zone” downtown, Griffin endured jeers and ribbing during first period. By second period, he started to get pushed around and spat upon by an increasingly aggressive crowd.

Sensing the increasing hostility, Griffin took his jersey off in the third period. But not before four or five people jumped him and started kicking and punching him.

“Thankfully those were just a few morons and other people were able to come by and pull them off,” said Griffin.

As the crowds got bigger, they turned more violent and started smashing windows and setting cars on fire. Griffin said he decided to just stay in the background until the mayhem ended.

But when he saw a mob attack a man who was trying to stop the riots, he stepped in and tried to help him.

Still with his jersey in hand, Griffin was again attacked, this time by an even angrier group of rioters.

“Seeing people getting kicked for no reason because of the jersey they wore or because they were trying to stop people from destroying property just makes no sense,” he said.

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